Submission to Journal of Election and Leadership (JOELS) ISSN 2477-8060 (print), ISSN 2503-4456 (online) ©LPPM, Universitas Lancang Kuning

Dynamics of Regional Head Elections (Pilkada) in 2020 During the COVID-19 Pandemic Mudir Johan1, Andi Wahyudi2 and Irawati Irawati3 1,2,3 Universitas Lancang Kuning, , [email protected]

Abstract This research examines the problems of regional head elections (pilkada) as a government system that places the people as the sole voters. Pilkada is defined as the General Election to elect pairs of candidates for Regional Head proposed by a Political Party (Parpol) or a combination of political parties and individuals. But the problem is that the implementation of the pilkada in the COVID-19 pandemic has threatened the health of the people and has an impact on the weakening of various sectors, with this situation several agendas in the process of the pilkada stages were violated by candidate pairs such as not implementing health protocols at every stage of registration so that in the 2020 election feels threatened. Keywords: Local Election (Pilkada); Election Data; COVID-19

1. Introduction Talking about the election cannot be Indonesia is a country that upholds separated from the problems faced by democracy, one of the characteristics of a Indonesia at this time, namely COVID-19, democratic country, namely carrying out the development of the spread of the elections as a means of selecting leaders. COVID-19 pandemic outbreak has Tricahyo (2009: 6) Election is an significantly increased, including Indonesia instrument of realizing people's sovereignty being the country affected by this pandemic which has the aim of forming a legitimate outbreak. Keeping in mind the danger of the government and means of articulating the outbreak, through the mandate contained in aspirations of the people's interests, article 12 of the Constitution of the meaning that the Indonesian State involves Republic of Indonesia the President then its people in the framework of state issued a Presidential Decree (Keppres) of administration, people's sovereignty is the Republic of Indonesia Number 11 of carried out by people's representatives who 2020 concerning the Determination of sit in parliament with a system or Health Emergencies. Referring to the study democracy live. Yandra (2017) added that of emergency constitutional law, the the demands for resident’s residency status determination of this emergency is still to participate in regional head elections within the scope of staatsnoodrecht, where become a pivotal thing pursued by KPUD, the state is required to issue policies to deal Regional Government, Political Parties, with emergency situations (Asshiddiqie, Panwaslu, Support Tem and the contestant 2012). The implementation of this policy is themselves—remember, these efforts are contained in the application of Large-Scale strengthening Consolidated, quality local Social Restrictions in the form of democracy and civilized. General election restrictions that have begun to be carried is a minimum requirement for democracy out and calls for avoiding activities that which aims to elect people's representatives involve large numbers of people are being and regional representatives. People's implemented. Recently, the government sovereignty is exercised by representatives issued a policy to ban homecoming to break of people's representatives who sit in the chain of spreading the COVID-19 Soedarsono's representative institutions pandemic. (2005: 1).

Received (2021-01-14); Accepted (2021-07-16); Published (2021-07-16). 2 Submission to Journal of Election and Leadership

The government has determined that 19 pandemic. By determining the status of a regional head elections will be held on health emergency, limiting interactions December 9, 2020. Initially the 2020 complicates movement and hinders the pilkada will be held on September 23, 2020, performance of election administrators. before Indonesia was hit by the COVID 19 Simultaneous voters have entered the stage pandemic, the General Election of determining the Provisional Voters List Commission (KPU) had carried out a series (DPS) which started from 6-14 September of stages for the implementation of the 2020. A total of 2,450,166 voters have been 2020 regional elections. assigned to the DPS (concurrent voter list) However, due to the COVID-19 spread across 9 districts / cities in pandemic, the KPU finally issued KPU province to carry out the 2020 regional decree no. 179 / PL.02-kpt / 01 / KPU / III / elections simultaneously which aims to 2020, which regulates the postponement of elect the Governor, Regent and Mayor. several stages of the 2020 regional Table 1 elections, including the inauguration of the Number of Regional Elections Voting Committee (PPS) working period, verification of the support requirements of Governor 9 individual candidates, the formation of Region Leader 224 Voter Data Update Officers (PPDP) and City Mayor 37 carrying out matching and research (coklit), as well as updating and compiling voter 2. Method lists. The postponement of several stages of After collecting data, all data collected the aforementioned pilkada can have is then processed. The data were analyzed various impacts in its implementation, both using qualitative methods, namely by positive and negative. The positive impact, thoroughly describing the data obtained for example, this delay provides space for during the research process. Miles and independent candidates to prepare support Huberman in Sugiyono (2012: 246) reveal requirements as individual candidates. that in qualitative data processing through Political parties can also experience stages of reduction, data presentation, and relatively relaxation in the recruitment drawing conclusions. process for regional head candidates. a. Reduction The problem is that the positive impact Reducing means summarizing, is not too significant considering that the choosing the main and important things deadline for changing the implementation then looking for themes and patterns schedule is only three months, from 23 (Sugiyono: 2012: 247). At this stage the September to 9 December 2020. This researcher sorts out which information is change in schedule is considered forced relevant to the research. It is less and leads considering that the increase in the number to the core of the problem so that it can of positive cases of COVID-19 has not provide a clearer picture of the object of sloped and is over. Moreover, until today research. there is no certainty when this pandemic b. Presentation of data will end. The impression of coercion over Presentation of data in qualitative the issuance of Perppu Number 2 of 2020 is research is descriptive text. Information indeed visible. obtained in the field is presented in the best In the context of the 2020 regional possible text, without any additions that are head elections, all pilkada actors including not adjusted to existing facts. This aims to organizers, prospective candidates and be able to present the data that has been political parties are fully waiting for the reduced correctly and the actual situation in government's response and response the field. regarding the conditions under the Covid-

Mudir Johan, Andi Wahyudi and Irawati Irawati / Dynamics of Regional Head Elections (Pilkada) in 2020 3 During the COVID-19 Pandemic c. Drawing conclusions at the final stage of control aspects of the COVID-19 health data processing is drawing conclusions. protocol which are the safety standards for After all the data are presented the election organizers. Technical aspects, problems that are the object of the research namely all matters relating to election can be understood and then conclusions are governance which can be categorically drawn which are the results of this research. divided into 3 major groups, namely pre d. Media tracking election period, election period, and post 3. Results and Discussion election period. For example, in the early 3.1 Local Election (Pilkada) period, namely the preparation of the legal General Election for Regional Heads framework, schedule, budget, outreach, and and Deputy Regional Heads or commonly voter data collection. The election period referred to as Pilkada or Pemilukada is a includes nominations, campaigns, campaign General Election to elect pairs of candidates funds, voting, recapitulation, and for Regional Head proposed by a Political determination of candidate voters. Party (Parpol) or a combination of political Meanwhile, the post election period is parties and individuals. Pilkada (Regional evaluation and recommendation Head Election) is an election conducted preparation. directly by residents of the local In the election atmosphere at the time administrative area who have met the of the COVID-19 pandemic, the health requirements. In Indonesia, currently aspect or anticipating organizers and voters regional head elections can be conducted not being exposed to the COVID-19 virus directly by residents of local administrative becomes an additional task that must be areas who have met the requirements. ensured as a consequence of the policy of Purwoko (2005: 100) in direct regional holding elections. This aspect relates to the elections, existing democracy means compliance of the organizers and the parties opening up opportunities for every citizen involved in the selection of the health as to hold public office, it also means that safety protocol. there is an opportunity for the people to use their political rights directly and the 3.2 Postponement of the 2020 regional opportunity to make choices and participate elections in controlling the running of the As a result of the COVID-19 government. pandemic, the General Election Regional head elections can also be Commission issued a policy of postponing carried out in a joint package with the several stages of implementing deputy regional head. The said regional simultaneous regional elections for 2020. heads and deputy regional heads include the There are about 3 stages that are postponed, following: namely the inauguration of the voting a. Governor and deputy governor for committee (PPS), verification of the province prospective individual candidates and b. Regent and deputy regent for the recruitment of voter data updating officers (PPDP) and matching and research (coklit) district of voter data. c. The mayor and deputy mayor for the Provincial KPU establishes a post to city request reports and complaints on voter The election of governors, regents and data, publish and disseminate information mayors in the midst of the COVID-19 on updating voter data to the public. pandemic is certainly not easy. Besides Compile a mapping of the vulnerability of having to ensure the technical aspects voter data, namely the vulnerability of the related to the election, Bawaslu must also density of voters in border areas, vulnerable 4 Submission to Journal of Election and Leadership voters, the COVID-19 red zone, the isolated at home will be visited at home. problem of recording electronic ID cards the. Officers will pick up balls to patients etc. Supervision of the stages of voter list who are positive for COVID-19. If the verification is essential to ensure citizens patient is in a condition that it is not who qualify as registered voters in the voter possible to vote on his own, the user of his / list for the elections. In addition, it also her right to vote will be represented by a ensures that the determination of the voter trusted person or a member of the polling list is in accordance with the provisions of committee. The 2020 regional elections will statutory regulations. In the context of be held in 270 regions throughout Indonesia anticipating COVID-19, the KPU has amid the real exposure of the COVID-19 implemented health protocols by carrying pandemic. hand sanitizers, wearing masks, and For Riau province, the local elections previously carrying out rapid tests to ensure will be held in 9 districts / cities, namely that they are free from the COVID-19 virus. , , Indragiri Hulu, Kuantan The Riau Provincial KPU will also Singingi, Meranti Islands, Pelalawan, prepare a special TPS for COVID-19 Rokan Hilir, Siak, and Rokan Hulu with a patients and still be able to exercise their total of 8,400 polling stations. voting rights in the 2020 elections. Special Details of the number of voter lists in 9 polling stations are prepared around Regencies / Cities in Riau Province starting hospitals that treat COVID-19 patients from the highest order: while patients who are independently

Table 2 Details of The Number of Voters

Region/City Number of Voters Rokan Hilir 398,656 Bengkalis 381,347 Rokan Hulu 323,277 Indragiri Hilir 291,573 Siak 267,188 Kuantan Singingi 230,832 Pelalawan 214,368 Dumai 204,060 Kepulauan Meranti 138,865 Pilkada during the pandemic was between Based on the table, the largest number substandi or procedural democracy. of voters is in Rokan Hilir Regency, namely 398,656 people, in Bengkalis with 381,347 4. Conclusion people, Rokan Hulu with 323,277 people, Based on the above explanation, the Indragiri Downstream 291,573 people, Siak 2020 simultaneous regional elections during 267,188 people, Kuantan Singingi 230,832, the COVID-19 pandemic were held in 270 Pelalawan 214,368 people, Dumai 204,060 regions in Indonesia, especially in Riau people, and the smallest number is in the Province which was held in 9 Regencies / Meranti Islands with 138,865 voters. Cities namely Bengkalis, Dumai, Indragiri Hulu, Kuantan Singingi, Meranti Islands,

Submission to Journal of Election and Leadership2

Pelalawan, Rokan Hilir, Siak, Rokan Hulu participation in five western with 8,400 TPS. democracies, 27-56. To anticipate COVID-19, the KPU has KPU RIAU, Laporan Kegiatan Tahapan implemented a health protocol by carrying a Pemilu Tahun 2019. Laporan Hasil hand sanitizer, wearing a mask, and Pemilu 2014 previously carrying out a rapid test to Nie, N. H., Verba, S., & Kim, J. O. (1974). ensure it is free from the COVID-19 virus. Political participation and the life The KPU must serve positive COVID-19 cycle. Comparative Politics, 6(3), patients in the regional elections. Voting 319-340. organizers (KPPS) officers will visit Nugroho, N.S., (2015). Partisipasi Pemilih residents who cannot come to the polling Warga Negara Rokan Hulu:Studi stations so they can still exercise their Kasus Pemilihan DPRD Kabupaten voting rights. They must exercise their dan Pemilihan Presiden tahun 2014. voting rights, because one vote is very Robinson, J. P., Shaver, P. R., & valuable in determining the progress of a Wrightsman, L. S. (1999). Measures region of political attitudes. Academic Press. 5. References Yandra, A. (2017). Penyelamatan Hak Pilih Kaase, M., & Marsh, A. (1979). Political Warga Perbatasan Jelang action: A theoretical Pilkada. POLITIK, 13(1). perspective. Political action: Mass